AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-259
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the
activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an
active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating
through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org
******************* AMSAT 2007 Space Symposium *************************
The Wireless Association of South Hills Amateur Radio Club announces the
2007 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held at the Pittsburgh Airport
Marriott Hotel on Friday, October 26 through Sunday, October 28, 2007.
The AMSAT web team has posted informational pages on the AMSAT web site.
You can find the announcement with many links at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2007/index.php
**************************************************************************
In this edition:
* New launch date for Netherlands Delfi-C3
* AO-51 Schedule for September Includes V/U FM, L/S FM, SSB, and L/U
* AMSAT at the LA County Fair
* Three Satellites Spur Activity on 145.825 MHz Packet
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* ARRL Announces 1296 MHz WAS #1
* ARISS Status Report for the Week of September 10, 2007
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.01
New launch date for Netherlands Delfi-C3
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.01
The Delfi-C3 team has been informed by its launch broker that the
launch of Delfi-C3 has been moved to December, 2007.
The two major factors that have contributed to the postponement of
the launch are weather and the Indian launch schedule. The weather
effect on the launch is the typhoon season in India, which lasts
from mid-October until December. The launch schedule is dependent
on mission priorities.
In the meantime the Delfi-C3 team will continue to work on futher
testing parts of the satellite and preparing for the operations
phase. As soon as more information regarding the launch of Delfi-C3
is available it will be available on the Delfi-C3 website.
For downloads related to the press presentation (promotional movie,
pictures, presentations) please go to http://www.delfic3.nl/press/
Delfi-C3 will have a telemetry downlink in the amateur satellite
segment of the VHF amateur radio frequency band. Telemetry decoding
software will be made available to participating amateur radio oper-
ators and universities which allows them to decode and display real
time telemetry. This software will allow for uploading received tele-
metry date to the central Delfi-C3 ground station via the Internet
for data processing. The Delfi-C3 team would like to invite all
interested radio amateurs to receive, decode and forward telemetry
data to the Delfi-C3 ground station.
Delfi-C3 includes a mode UV linear transponder. The satellite will
be in telemetry only mode for approximately the first three months
of the mission, after which it is switched to transponder mode.
Delfi-C3 Frequencies:
+ Primary telemetry downlink: 145.870 MHz 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW
+ Backup telemetry downlink: 145.930 MHz 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW
+ Linear transponder passband downlink: 145.880 - 145.920 MHz
(inverting) 400mW PEP
+ Linear transponder passband uplink: 435.570 - 435.530 MHz
+ Transponder mode beacon: 145.870 MHz CW (10dB below transponder PEP)
[ANS thanks the Delfi-C3 team for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.02
AO-51 Schedule for September Includes V/U FM, L/S FM, SSB, and L/U
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.02
Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA Vice President of Operations described the AO-51
Satellite Schedule for September. Drew said, "We are currently running
370 mW on TXA (435.150) and 630 mW on TXB (435.300). Power levels will
continue to increase as eclipses get shorter, leading up to 10 weeks of
continuous sun in early 2008."
Drew continued, "These are going to be interesting times. Keep in mind
that anytime we have something other than telemetry running on TXA
(i.e. L/U repeater), we may have to interrupt it occasionally for tele-
metry and satellite maintenance. Our lead command station, Gould WA4SXM,
has been doing an outstanding job of squeezing every last drop of power
for the downlinks."
AO-51 just completed 5 days of Mode L/S FM repeater operation. The
schedule for the remainder of September 2007 is as follows:
September 14 - September 17
FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, No PL Tone
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM, 9k6 Telemetry Only
September 17 - September 21
SSB/FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.880 MHz USB
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM, 9k6 Telemetry Only
September 21 - October 1
FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, No PL Tone
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
FM Repeater, L/U (subject to interuption for satellite maintenance)
Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, No PL Tone
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.03
AMSAT at the LA County Fair
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.03
As part of the Amateur Radio Expo at the Los Angeles County Fair,
AMSAT member Clint Bradford, K6LCS, is manning an AMSAT booth.
The Expo runs weekends throughout the Fair.
"It's been an AMSAT week," Clint reports. "I gave my "Working AO-51
with your HT" presentation Friday night at the annual HAMCON
conference in Torrance. We had 62 people in attendance, including
Gordon West and Cathy Gardenias. And right after that presentation,
we had a great pass of AO-51 that we worked from the top of the
conference hotel's parking structure.
"Then on to the LA County Fair for all day Saturday and Sunday.
Amateur Radio is well-represented here, with over 300 feet of booth
space. Our booth is a 10x10 E-ZUP, with a slideshow running with
photos and "stimulating" information. Handouts include a special
"Fair Edition" of AMSAT News, and other material.
"If you are planning a trip to the Fair, we are set up outside
between Commercial Buildings 4 and 6."
The Los Angeles County Fair runs September 7-30 this year. It is the
largest county fair in the United States and retains its impressive
ranking of fourth among the top 50 fairs and festivals in all of
North America. The all-time record attendance was 1,612,097 over 24
days in 1991. Fair attendance in 2006 was the highest since that
record-breaking year, clocking in at 1,427,656. For more Fair
information, their Web site is... http://www.lacountyfair.com
[ANS thanks Clint, K6LCS for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.04
Three Satellites Spur Activity on 145.825 MHz Packet
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.04
The ARISS system aboard the International Space Station has frequently
enabled its packet digipeater for APRS on 145.825 using the path of
"VIA ARISS".
Additionally, by mid-September PCSAT-1 should enter a FULL SUN
OPERATING PERIOD. This may present a period of a few weeks
when we will have THREE APRS satellites flying in constellation:
ISS, PCSAT-1, and ANDE, all operating 145.825 MHz.
This will assure over 18 passes per day. And since they all
respond to the same path "VIA ARISS" then which satellite is in
view is transparent to the user. Two-hop paths via ARISS,ARISS
might also be possible.
Bob, WB4APR noted, "In order for the global APRS internet system
to capture all these packets, we do need volunteer ground stations
to place an IGATE to monitor all packets on 145.825 MHz downlinks.
In many cases, a simple omni antenna connected to APRS is all that
is needed."
Successful packet digipeating on 145.825 can be seen on either:
http://www.ariss.net or http://pcsat.aprs.org
Bob added, "We are also working on getting GO-32 enabled for APRS
operation at 9600 baud. But since it uses different uplink and
downlink fequencies, it cannot be used for multiple-APRS-satellite
operations."
[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.05
Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.05
+ Hotel reservations in the reserved block of rooms for the AMSAT Symposium
in Pittsburgh are being quickly booked up. This is a reminder to visit
the Symposium web page and make your reservation.
+ Robert, G8ATE and John, G7HIA will be using the special call sign GB5OSO
starting on the 4th October for one month to celebrate the 50th Anni-
versary of the launch of the first earth orbiting satellite SPUTNIK ONE
on that date in 1957. All of the available analogue satellites will be
used as time permits. A special QSL card will be available after the
event.
+ Special congratulations to Beth (KD5CAA) and Kenneth Ransom (N5VHO
ARISS/ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer) on the birth of their daughter
Angela Hope on September 10, 2007! Everyone is reported doing well.
+ John, LA2QAA, administrator of the AO-7 resource page reminds satellite
operators of these AO-7 pages:
http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.phphttp://www.observations.biz/Observations_from_Norway/howmuchpowerisenough.ht
m
http://www.observations.biz/Observations_from_Norway/how_much_power_is_enoug
h_pt2.htm
While no prizes or certificates are currently being offered for the number
of contacts via AO-7 the Resource Page includes an activity log from
active stations on the satellite. In recent weeks we have received a
report of the milestone of the 2000th QSO via AO-7 by G1WPR. F3ZD reports
his AO-7 log since May, 1975 has 4276 QSOs via AO-7. The current leader
in the logged number of contacts on the Resource Page is K3SZH.
+ The operating schedule for the FO-29 satellite is available on-line at:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/m-arai/gkz/satinfo/fo29e.htm
+ Clive, G3CWV reports from Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, in the UK that
nothing has been heard from OSCAR-11. The satellite is operational in
sunlight but the current eclipses ended on August 20. Prior experience
with OSCAR-11 suggest that operation should have been restored at this
point. Clive would appreciate any reception reports of the satellite.
Please post to AMSAT-BB or directly to g3cwv at amsat.org. The frequency
of the VHF beacon is 145.825 MHz, mode FM. For more information see:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew.
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.06
ARRL Announces 1296 MHz WAS #1
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.06
Al Ward, W5LUA, of Allen, Texas, is the first person to achieve the
ARRL's Worked All States (WAS) on 1296 MHz, making him 1296 MHz WAS #1.
Ward first started on his pursuit January 25, 1977, with his first 1296
MHz contact with Leroy May, W5HN (SK). His 30 year quest ended last
week, with confirmed contacts with Wyoming, Utah and Idaho, giving Ward
his last three needed states, thanks to Paul Perryman's, WA5WCP, EME
DXpedition.
"I couldn't have done this without Paul," Ward said. "Also, thanks to
Ron Roche, K0ALL, and Barry Malowanchuk, VE4MA, in North Dakota for
number 47 in August. Without them, it just wouldn't have been possible."
After collecting his 50th QSL card, Ward drove from his home in Texas to
Little Rock, Arkansas so ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, could
verify his cards and complete his WAS paperwork. "Verifying QSL cards
from 30 years of activity brought back a lot of memories of several
stations active on 1296, many who are Silent Keys now," Harrison said.
[ANS thanks the ARRL Letter Vol. 26, No. 37 for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-259.07
ARISS Status Report for the Week of September 10, 2007
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 259.07
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 16, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-259.07
1. Successful Contact with Gail Borden Public Library
Youth from Elgin, Illinois experienced an ARISS contact on Wednesday,
September 5. Astronaut Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, fielded 20 questions put
to him by 16 children visiting the Gail Borden Public Library. The
contact was held in conjunction with the multi-media educational exhibit
"SPACE: Dare to Dream." Approximately 100 people witnessed the contact,
including the mayor of Elgin and three city council members. Two admin-
istrators from School District U-46 attended, as did reporters from the
Daily Herald and Elgin Courier newspapers. Children were interviewed
pre-contact by WGN Radio and the event was reported on by WBBM News
Radio 780 in Chicago. Video was also streamed over the internet.
The audio from this event was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377)
and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, and received 16 connections from 6 countries
and 3 repeater nodes. Five connections were also made to the IRLP Dis-
covery Reflector 9010. The Courier News ran an article covering the
event:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/544694,3_1_EL06_A1SPACE_
S1.article
To view the Daily Herald story, complete with slide show and audio, see:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=32229
2. Successful Contact with M. L. King Academy
An ARISS contact was completed with the M. L. King Academy (formerly
Alexander Macomb Academy) in Mount Clemens, Michigan on Wednesday,
September 12. The academy is a Title 1 school located in a suburb of
Detroit and has a population of approximately 66% African American and
30% Caucasian students. Nearly 80% of the students and their families
are economically disadvantaged. Students in grades K- 6 will study space
and the history of spaceflight. They will participate in related hands
on activities and will use several resources available on the NASA
education website. As a result of their space science research, lower
grades will create posters and upper grades will produce Power Point
presentations. All students will be able to witness the contact through
the school's television equipment.
3. Successful Contact with Westbrook Intermediate School
An ARISS event with Westbrook Intermediate School in Clear Creek, Texas
took place on Friday, September 14 via the telebridge station W6SRJ in
California. Westbrook is a gifted and talented (GT) magnet school with
a program known as Webster Academy - Visions in Education (WAVE), which
started at Webster Academy in 1996. This GT magnet brings together over
500 gifted and talented students from across the district to participate
in a unique program design. One of the opportunities available to WAVE
students is an amateur radio license class. In partnership with the
Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club, over 300 students have earned their ham
radio license over the last 8 years. At any time, there are approximately
100 hams in attendance at the school. Students and teachers have discussed
the ARISS contact in their classes, and all students have participated
in the development of questions for Clay Anderson.
4. Upcoming School Contacts
Mitchell Elementary School, a NASA Explorer School (NES), in Ann Arbor,
Michigan has been slated for an ARISS contact. The event is planned for
Monday, September 17 at 13:39 UTC. The use of Amateur Radio provides for
the integration of technology, math, science, geography, writing, reading,
and speaking through hands on applications of these concepts. Amateur radio
operators in Ann Arbor will present talks and demonstrations covering these
concepts prior to the actual contact with the ISS. Through this experience,
students will gain an understanding of amateur radio technology and it's
potential. Students will visit websites to view and listen to previous
conversations with the astronauts. Mitchell Elementary will download and
install tracking software onto the school lab computers to follow the space
station as it passes by on the day of the contact. Using computer software,
students will write essays explaining why they should be chosen to fly on
the ISS. Local, state and federal officials will be invited to attend the
event. Television, radio, newspapers, and the internet will cover the
contact. The audio from this event will be fed into the EchoLink AMSAT
(101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, and into the IRLP Discovery
Reflector 9010.
Pueblo Magnet High School in Tucson, Arizona plans to participate in an
ARISS contact on Friday, September 21 at 15:04 UTC. The school formed an
Amateur Radio Club last year to involve students in math and science. Dona-
tions of radio equipment were made by the local Catalina and Green Valley
Amateur Radio Clubs. Five students have already earned their Technician
licenses and one has upgraded to General Class. Science, art, and the
economic departments are involved in this endeavor; the Special Education
department has also been included - some students who will participate in
this event are autistic. Eighty percent of the students come from econom-
ically disadvantaged families. Local and national media coverage is anti-
cipated. The audio from this event will be fed into the EchoLink AMSAT
(101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, and into the IRLP Discovery
Reflector 9010.
5. ARISS - Ashland Greenwood Contact Receives Publicity
Omaha Newstand.com ran an article on the ARISS contact with Ashland
Greenwood
High School. The contact took place on August 29. See:
http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18782692&BRD=2712&PAG=461&dept_id
=556245&rfi=8
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors
to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits.
Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
K9JKM at amsat dot org